The Nigeria Labour Congress has accused Nigeria Governors Forum of undermining the national minimum  wage process, describing its statement on inability to pay N60,000 minimum wage as unwarranted amidst the ongoing negotiation.

Recall the governors argued that the N60,000 minimum wage would force some states into borrowing to pay workers’ salaries.

However, Nigeria Labour Congress in a statement issued through its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah on Saturday, said State Governors have no excuse not to pay the N60,000 minimum wage as FAAC allocation has since been moved from N700 billion to N1.2 trillion.

He counseled that what the state governors need to do to be able to pay reasonable national minimum wage is to minimize corruption and prioritize the welfare of workers.

He clarified that NLC is not fixated with figures but value, noting that in 2019, when N30,000 became the minimum, N300 exchanged for $1 leaving inflation rate at 11.40, while
at the moment the exchange rate is at N1,600 to $1 while inflation hovers at 33.7%.

While blaming the surge in inflation rate to Government's policies of fuel subsidy removal, mindless devaluation of the Naira, energy tariff hike by 250% and interest rate hike by 26.5%, Upah urged the governors to do a re-think and agree on workers wages that would be agreed upon by the tripartite committee on new national minimum wage.